Pecos New Mexico Appraisal

Signed Oil Painting of Pecos, New Mexico Church in Winter

This is an original representational oil painting on canvas or board, depicting a quiet winter scene of a historic church in Pecos, New Mexico (likely St. Anthony's or a similar Adobe-style structure). The composition features a central church building with a prominent white steeple topped with a cross, set against a backdrop of shadowed mesas and a starry twilight sky. The painting uses a muted palette of ochres, earth tones, cool grays, and whites to convey a cold, serene atmosphere. Significant attention is paid to the play of light, notably the warm glow emanating from the church windows and entrance, which contrasts with the cool, blue-toned snow covering the foreground and a rough stone wall. The brushwork appears deliberate and textured, particularly in the rendering of the snow-laden ground and the smoke rising from the chimneys. The work is signed by the artist in the lower right corner, though the signature is partially obscured by the frame and lighting in this image. The piece is housed in a substantial, decorative wood frame with a cream-colored wash and classic beaded detailing, indicating a mid-to-late 20th-century aesthetic. The condition of the painting surface appears excellent with no visible craquelure, flaking, or significant yellowing of the varnish. The style is characteristic of New Mexican regionalism or Western Impressionism, focusing on the cultural and architectural heritage of the American Southwest.